There are times when repairing a shoe or boot makes more sense than purchasing a replacement. This is why there are professional cobblers located all over the world, who specialize in fixing the heels, soles, and seams of dress shoes and boots. Many women and men acquire the assistance of cobblers in order to have holes patched, laces replaced, cracks repaired, and zippers fixed. These specialists often assist by cleaning and polishing leather shoes as well. Below you will find some terms that pertain to shoe and boot repair.

Aglet – A protective tip or plastic covering on the end of a shoelace. Sometimes aglets are even made from metal. While these tips do help prevent the shoelaces from fraying, they also make sneakers, boots, and men’s dress shoes easier to lace.

Goring – This is an elasticized portion of material that is typically used on shoes to connect two pieces of the upper together. Often used on dress shoes, the goring basically eliminates the need for laces, and makes the shoe opening flexible for easy slipping on and off.

Shank – A part of the shoe that runs between the outsole and heel. The shank typically sits or rests under the arch of the foot. This way it provides the shoe or boot with structure, and helps support the foot.

Vamp – This is part of a shoe or boot’s upper. Typically the vamp covers the entire top of the foot. It is commonly referred to when addressing leather boots for women and men.

Spats – These are fabric or leather accessories that are sometimes worn over shoes. Spats are typically dressy or ornate, and are placed over the ankle area to cover the throat of the shoe. However, spats are sometimes used as protective accessories as well.

It's inevitable, that regardless of how much you love your shoes or boots, they're bound to wear out at some point. No matter how much you love your heels or your suede custom pumps, they're bound to need repair at some point. When this happens, you can toss your damaged or cracked shoes into the garbage, or you can take them into your local shoe repairman or cobbler, to have them fixed.
Cobblers can repair and replace shoes of all styles and types. They can repair men's dress shoes and casual sneakers. They can also repair women's leather loafers and lace pumps.
Cobblers can offer you a variety of services. They can, for instance, resole your dress shoes. They can also dye and stretch the leather of your loafers. They can patch holes in your clogs. They can even glue an accessory or two, like a zipper, onto a pair of your boots.
On top of all that, cobblers can clean your shoes for you too. They can remove scuff marks from the soles of your favorite flats. They can shine and polish your best dress shoes. Essentially, they can see to it that all of your shoes look as good as new all the time!
So, the next time you wear through a pair of sneakers or break one of your heels, think twice before throwing those old shoes away. A cobbler could help you restore your old shoes to their former glory and make them feel like new again! For more information, look for a cobbler in you area that can take care of all your shoe repairing needs.